Curated OER
Tracking Speed
Students calculate the speed of an object, by measuring the amount of time it takes to cover a given distance, and then divide: speed=distance/time. However, the object may not have been moving at a constant rate over the given distance....
University of Colorado
Distance = Rate x Time
Every year, the moon moves 3.8 cm farther from Earth. In the 11th part of 22, classes use the distance formula. They determine the distance to the moon based upon given data and then graph Galileo spacecraft data to determine its movement.
Curated OER
Indy 500
Start your engines! Small groups collect data from websites pertaining to the Indianapolis 500 in order to determine average speed per lap and miles in each lap. The lesson requires prior knowledge of the the formula d=rt.
West Contra Costa Unified School District
Talking About Distance, Rate and Time
Connect the tortoise and the hare fable to mathematics. Learners first identify key terms related to distance, rate, and time. They then solve distance/rate/time problems using different representations.
Curated OER
Speed
Students explore speed by calculating the average speed of several snowmobiles, and predicting which of them is the fastest. They watch a race to verify their calculations.
EngageNY
A Critical Look at Proportional Relationships
Use proportions to determine the travel distance in a given amount of time. The 10th installment in a series of 33 uses tables and descriptions to determine a person's constant speed. Using the constant speed, pupils write a linear...
Curated OER
Word Problems: Distance = Rate x Time
In this word problem worksheet, students read word problems, and set the information into the distance formula. They solve the formula to determine the distance, rate and time. This two-page worksheet contains six problems, with answers.
Willow Tree
Weighted Averages
Mixtures, weighted percentages, and varying speeds make problem solving difficult. The resource give learners a strategy for tackling these types of problems effectively.
Curated OER
Linear Motion: Speed, Velocity & Acceleration
Students explore the concept of linear motion. In this linear motion lesson, students calculate distance and time in order to calculate average speed and velocity in the provided problems.
Curated OER
Motion: Speed, Velocity, Acceleration and Networking
Students interpret a variety of motion graphs. In this physics lesson, students calculate the speed and acceleration of objects using numerical data from graphs. They apply what they have learned to solve real world problems.
Curated OER
Speeding By The Numbers
Students determine speed by running or walking a given distance and dividing the distance by the time it took them to do so. They record their average speed and compare it with the speeds of other moving objects.
Curated OER
Balsa Wood Airplane Flight and Speed Correlation
Ninth graders calculate the average speed of their balsa wood airplane. In this physics lesson, 9th graders build their own airplane and make necessary modifications to to make it fly straight. They interpret distance and time graph...
Curated OER
Domino Dash
In this speed worksheet, students use dominoes to measure the average speed of rows falling over. Students make a line graph to show the relationship between the length of the domino row and the time. Students answer 8 questions about...
Curated OER
"Go-Car" Lab
Students construct a car based on directions given. In this physics lesson, students calculate average speed using distance and time information. They collect data and create a graph of distance vs. time.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan C26: Distance and Travel
Middle schoolers analyze information in two-way tables to find distances and travel times, answer questions involving total journey times, practice calculating average speeds, and examine fuel consumption of cars, mileage allowance, and...
Curated OER
Straight Line Motion in Two Parts
Students describe and quantify the motion of toy cars. In this motion lesson, students observe a battery powered toy car on a flat surface and a standard toy car on a sloped surface. They write their observations, measure average speeds,...
Curated OER
Drive the Data Derby
Three days of race car design and driving through the classroom while guessing probability could be a third graders dream. Learn to record car speed, distances traveled, and statistics by using calculation ranges using the mean, median,...
Curated OER
"So Tell Me About Your Trip..."
Students research destinations and the factors involved in taking a trip and explore how averages play a part in making decisions. They explore how to find the average speed and the distance to a particular destination, they estimate...
Curated OER
Find the Speed of a Protist
Pupils identify protists under a microscope, and using a stopwatch calculate the speed of a protist from a pond water sample. They use distance and time to identify the speed of a protist, and create a distance versus time graph to...
Curated OER
Not Your Average Average
Students discover that if a distance is traveled in two or more segments at different average speeds, you cannot average the average speeds. Instead the total distance traveled must be divided by the total elapsed time. Students practice...
Curated OER
Calculating Speed
Fourth graders complete an experiment on calculating speed. In this speed calculation lesson students complete an activity in which they have dominoes fall as slow as possible.
Curated OER
I Feel The Need For Speed
Students are introduced to the concepts of speed, velocity, acceleration and inertia. In groups, they use the internet to research rollercoasters found in the United States and calculate their acceleration rates. They use the...
Curated OER
Describing Motion-Speed
Learners study speed and learn how to calculate it. In this investigative lesson plan students participate in an activity that shows them how to calculate speed then they fill out a worksheet.
Curated OER
Horatio's Ratios
View a PBS video entitled Horatio's Drive and explore Horatio's Ratios. Collaborative learners form groups to use Mapquest to determine distances covered. They generate the mathematical averages, ratios, and rates in order to calculate...